Wenlan Pagoda

Wenlan Pagoda

Wenlan Pagoda, known for the scenic view "Pagoda Embracing the Moon," is located on the north bank of Shimen Pool in the Zijiang River, at Xiaoyan Town, thirty kilometers east of Anhua County, Yiyang City. It is now a provincial-level cultural heritage site.

The pagoda was built in 1836 with funds donated by Tao Shu, the Viceroy of Liangjiang, upon his return to his hometown, and was completed in the 23rd year of the Daoguang reign (1843).

The pagoda stands twenty-one meters tall, has eight sides and seven stories, and features thirty-two bronze bells on the corners from the fourth to the seventh floors, which chime in the wind, sounding like celestial music. The first floor bears a white marble plaque inscribed with the imperial calligraphy “Yinxinshi Wu” (Seal Heart Stone House) by Emperor Daoguang, while the second floor has a blue stone plaque engraved with “Wenlan Pagoda.” This ancient pagoda, nestled among high mountains and valleys, surrounded by green hills and clear waters, presents a majestic presence.

Legend Behind the Pagoda’s Construction:

It is said that when Tao Shu retired from office, he deliberately rented several large boats and filled them with stones. He then sailed upstream along the Grand Canal, against the Yangtze River, and through Dongting Lake. His political rivals, unwilling to stay silent, reported to the emperor that Tao Shu had returned from office unclean—allegedly transporting untold amounts of gold, silver, and valuables. Emperor Daoguang was furious and ordered an investigation. However, the inquiry yielded no evidence. When asked by the emperor why he had brought stones back instead of something more useful, Tao Shu replied, “In recent years, droughts and floods have left our elders with little to eat. Moreover, after a lifetime in public service, wouldn’t it be shameful to return home empty-handed and embarrass Your Majesty? Rather than bringing back valuables, I chose to bring stones to build a pagoda, treating them as symbols of wealth to remind people not to forget Your Majesty’s benevolence.” Deeply moved, Emperor Daoguang exempted the region from taxes for three years and bestowed a quantity of gold, silver, and silk equal to what the stone-laden boats could have carried. The Wenlan Pagoda thus stands proudly, a magnificent monument for over a century.

About Tao Shu:

A prominent official of the Qing Dynasty (1779–1839), styled Zilin and also known as Yunding, Tao Shu was a native of Anhua, Hunan. He authored works such as *Yinxinshiwu Collection*, *Memorials*, *Chronicles of Tao Huan Gong*, *Annotations on the Collected Works of Tao Yuanming*, *Chronicles of Jingjie*, and *Diary of the Shu Journey*. Tao Shu dedicated himself to study from a young age, attending the prestigious Yuelu Academy. He became a Jinshi (imperial scholar) during the Jiaqing era, eventually rising to the rank of Viceroy of Liangjiang, concurrently serving as Governor of Jiangsu and Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai. He stands as one of the most prominent officials in Anhua’s history. As a representative of the traditional Chinese ideal of scholarly success leading to public service, Tao Shu is a source of pride for the people of Anhua. Therefore, at the height of his career, he returned to his hometown to construct a pagoda named Wenlan—both to highlight the long history and literary-martial traditions of Anhua, proving that southern China was not a barbaric land but one with a rich and enduring cultural legacy, and to promote the value of education, especially to his fellow Anhuans. He emphasized that education is the righteous path to self-cultivation, family harmony, good governance, and national prosperity; it is how one brings honor to their family and glorifies their ancestors.